Electrical box bracket

ABSTRACT

A bracket is configured to secure a component, such as an electrical box, to a support member, such as a stud. The bracket can include an engagement portion, such as a snap-on arm, configured to interact with multiple surfaces of the support member. A biased or snap-on feature of the engagement portion can be configured to engage a side of the support member to secure the bracket to the support member.

This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/715,065, which wasfiled May 18, 2015 and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S.Provisional Patent Application 62/000,053, which was filed May 19, 2014.The entire contents of both of the above-referenced priorityapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The invention is in the field of electrical box mountings, such asbrackets.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electrical box brackets have been used to mount electrical boxes andother devices to studs or other building structures. Improvements inmountings are desirable to deal with problems in current electrical boxbrackets, some of which are discussed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to aspects of the invention, an electrical box bracketincludes one or more of the following features: snap-on arms that alloweasy mock-up and self-leveling of assembly; stud-lock tabs on snap-onarms provide positive retention to a metal stud; integral foldable legsthat provide a secure installation to both the open or closed side ofany depth metal stud; apertures with protrusions to provide positiveretention of an electrical box (or other device) to the bracket; and/oran embossed front face for superior stiffness and flexural resistance.

According to other aspects of the invention, an electrical box bracketincludes: a front face portion; and one or more mechanisms, operablycoupled to the front face portion, for engaging a stud or otherstructure. The bracket may include one or more of the following features(individually or in any combination): stud-lock tabs; the stud-lock tabsare configured to engage opposite sides of a stud; the stud lock tabscan engage flanges of the stud and/or faces of the stud; one or moresnap-on arms; the one or more snap-on arms include respective armstud-lock tabs; the arm stud-lock tabs are in tabs of the arm that areperpendicular to the face portion and proximal portions of the arms; thetabs of the arm extend rearward from the proximal arm portions; foldablelegs that provide a secure installation to both the open or closed sideof any depth metal stud (for example); the legs are integral to thebracket; the face portion has apertures with protrusions to providepositive retention of an electrical box (or other device) to thebracket; the face portion is an embossed front face for superiorstiffness and flexural resistance; an embossed portion of the faceportion has a depth that corresponds to a material thickness of amudring to be installed on the face portion; the embossed portion isrectangular; the face portion has a rectangular cutout or openingthrough which electrical wiring and/or the interior of an electrical boxmounted to the bracket (or the contents of the box) may be accessed; theface portion has apertures to which an electrical box may be mounted;the apertures may be open slots; the apertures may have a keyholeshapes; protrusions on opposites of the apertures may operate to helpretain screws of the electrical box; a far-side support; the far-sidesupport is perpendicular to the face portion; the far-side support isbent back from the face portion; the far side support includes one ormore legs; the far side support has an aperture therethrough, forexample through which electrical cable or conduit may be passed; the farside support aperture may be vertical; the far side support apertureincludes one or more feet, for example for bearing against dry wall; thefeet of the far side support may be vertical (substantially parallel tothe face portion); the far side support may have one or more undercuts,such as to accommodate a stud, or for mounting of shallow electricalboxes back-to-back; the legs are foldable legs; the legs can be foldedto a position to engage a flat surface (such as a flat inner surface) ofthe stud; apertures in the bracket to facilitate folding of the legs;the legs have feet for pressing against stud faces; the legs have holestherein, such as for receiving fasteners; the legs each have a firstposition (e.g., unfolded) for engaging a closed side (face) of a stud;the legs each have a second position (e.g., folded) for engaging an openside (face) of a stud; stud tabs that extend rearward from the faceportion; the stud tabs are perpendicular to the face portion; the studtabs include respective stud-lock tabs for engaging the stud; there aretwo of the stud lock tabs extending from one side (edge) of the faceportion; a stud arm is between the two stud lock tabs; there are twoadditional stud lock tabs extending from a second side (edge) of theface portion; another stud arm is between the two additional stud locktabs; an arm stud lock tab can engage one side of a stud (engaging flatface or flange), while one or more (such as two) stud lock tabs canengage the opposite side of the stud (engaging flat face or flange); theengagement of two stud lock tabs on one side of a stud, above and belowengagement of an arm stud lock tab on an opposite side of the stud,helps stabilizes and align installation of the bracket on the stud; thestud lock tabs of the stud tabs may be smaller than the arm stud-locktab; the stud lock tabs of the stud tabs are angled relative to the restof the stud tabs (such as bodies of the stud tabs); a snap-on arm hasone or more apertures through which a screw or other fastener may beinserted, for example to secure the bracket to a stud; one or moresnap-on arms may occupy a plane of a horizontal centerline of theelectrical box bracket, or of an electrical box secure to the bracket; apair of snap-on arms on opposite sides of the face portion may havedifferent vertical locations, for example being located symmetricallyabove and below a centerline of the bracket, for example to allow a pairof brackets to be installed side-by-side using the same vertical stud,with the brackets mounting electrical boxes at the same verticallocation (height); the one or more mechanisms may include the arm(s),the stud-lock tab(s), and/or the feet; the bracket may be made of asingle piece of unitary continuous material; the bracket may be made ofsheet metal; and/or the bracket may be made of sheet steel.

According to other aspects of the invention, a method of installing thebracket of the previous paragraph (any combination of features),includes: using the one or more mechanisms to secure the bracket to astud, before final installation; finally securing the bracket to thestud, for example using one or more screws (or fasteners), or even asingle screw or fastener.

According to another aspect of the invention, an electrical box bracketincludes: a front face portion for receiving an electrical box; afar-side support connected to the front face portion; and a studengagement mechanically coupled to the face portion and the far-sidesupport; wherein the stud engagement mechanically engages multiplesurfaces of a stud when the electrical box bracket is attached to thestud.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s):the stud engagement includes: one or more first extensions from thefront face; and one or more second extensions from the far-side support.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the one or more first extensions include an arm that fits over a frontface of the stud.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the arm is a snap-on arm.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the snap-on arm is an L-shape part that includes: a proximal leg thatextends outward from the face portion, wherein the proximal leg overliesthe front face of the stud; and a distal leg, bent at an angle from theproximal leg, wherein the distal leg engages a far side of the stud thatfaces away from the bracket.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the distal leg includes a snap-on arm tab for engaging a side portion ofthe stud.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the one or more first extensions also include additional tabs forengaging a side surface of the stud that is opposite from the sideportion engaged by the snap-on arm tab.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the second extensions include foldable legs that can be configured by anend user to engage, at different distances from the far-side support, aside surface of stud.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the foldable legs can be selective configured between a firstconfiguration for engaging an open side of the stud, and a secondconfiguration for engaging a closed side of the stud.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),each of the foldable legs each has multiple elongate apertures therein,to facilitate bending of the leg relative to the far-side support, andto facilitate bending the a distal portion of the leg relative to aproximal portion of the leg.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),each of the foldable legs also has holes in the distal portion and theproximal portion, for receiving fasteners for connecting the legs to thestud in both the first configuration and the second configuration.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the far-side support has stiffening flanges running a full length ofopposite edges of the support.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the stiffening flanges each have one or more holes therein for cuttingthe stiffening flanges, to reduce a depth of the support.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the far-side support is configured for a rear portion to be foldable byan end user to reduce a depth of the support.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the rear portion has a series of removable cutouts that may be removedto provide clearance for conduit fittings.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the far-side support has a rear portion with feet for engaging a wallwhen the far-side support is at full depth.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),a main part of the far-side support has an edge for engaging a wall whenthe far-side support is at reduced depth, with the rear portion bentover against the main part.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s)the front face portion is embossed, with a recessed central sectionsurrounded by a border.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the front face portion has open slots for receiving threaded fastenersmechanically coupled to an electrical box; and the front face portionhas have protrusions that protrude inward from opposite sides of theslots, to aid in retaining the threaded fasteners within the slots.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the bracket is in combination with a metal stud to which the bracket isattached.

According to an embodiment of the bracket of any previous paragraph(s),the bracket is in combination with an electrical box mechanicallycoupled to the bracket.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an electrical boxbracket includes: a front face portion for receiving an electrical box;a far-side support connected to the front face portion; and a studengagement mechanically coupled to the face portion and the far-sidesupport; wherein the stud engagement mechanically engages multiplesurfaces of a stud when the electrical box bracket is attached to thestud; wherein the stud engagement includes: one or more first extensionsfrom the front face; and one or more second extensions from the far-sidesupport; wherein the one or more first extensions include a snap-on armthat fits over a front face of the stud; wherein the snap-on arm is anL-shape part that includes; a proximal leg that extends outward from theface portion, wherein the proximal leg overlies the front face of thestud; and a distal leg, bent at an angle from the proximal leg, whereinthe distal leg engages a far side of the stud that faces away from thebracket; wherein the distal leg includes a snap-on arm tab for engaginga side portion of the stud; wherein the one or more first extensionsalso include additional tabs for engaging a side surface of the studthat is opposite from the side portion engaged by the snap-on arm tab;wherein the second extensions include foldable legs that can beconfigured by an end user to engage, at different distances from thefar-side support, a side surface of stud; wherein the foldable legs canbe selective configured between a first configuration for engaging anopen side of the stud, and a second configuration for engaging a closedside of the stud; wherein each of the foldable legs each has multipleelongate apertures therein, to facilitate bending of the leg relative tothe far-side support, and to facilitate bending the a distal portion ofthe leg relative to a proximal portion of the leg; and wherein each ofthe foldable legs also has holes in the distal portion and the proximalportion, for receiving fasteners for connecting the legs to the stud inboth the first configuration and the second configuration.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method ofattaching an electrical box to a metal stud, the method includes:mounting an electrical box bracket to the metal stud; and coupling theelectrical box to the electrical box bracket; wherein the mounting theelectrical box bracket includes mechanically engaging a front andmultiple sides of the metal stud with extensions of the mountingbracket.

According to another aspect of the invention, a mounting bracket cansecure a component to a support member. The mounting bracket can includea mounting portion configured to support the component with thecomponent disposed at least partly along a first side of the supportmember, and a snap-on arm connected to the mounting portion. The snap-onarm can include a first portion extending away from the mounting portionand configured to overlie a front face of the support member. Thesnap-on arm can further include a second portion extending at an anglerelative to the first portion, with the second portion including asnap-on feature that is configured to engage a second side of thesupport member, opposite the first side, when the first portion of thesnap-on arm overlies the front face of the support member, to secure themounting bracket to the support member.

According to another aspect of the invention a mounting arrangement cansecure a mounting bracket to a support member, with the mounting bracketsupporting a component with the component disposed at least partly alonga first side of the support member. The mounting arrangement can includea snap-on arm mechanically coupled to the mounting bracket andconfigured to mechanically engage multiple surfaces of the supportmember to secure the mounting bracket to the support member. The snap-onarm can extend away from the mounting bracket and include a bend thatseparates a first portion of the snap-on arm from a second portion ofthe snap-on arm. The first portion of the snap-on arm can be configuredto contact a front face of the support member. The second portion of thesnap-on arm can include a biased tab configured to contact a second sideof the support member, opposite the first side of the support member,when the first portion of the snap-on arm contacts the front face of thesupport member, to secure the mounting bracket to the support member.

According to another aspect of the invention, a bracket can secure anelectrical-system component to a stud, with the stud having front face,a closed side, and an open side. The bracket can include a mountingportion configured to receive the electrical-system component. A studengagement can configured to engage the front face of the stud and atleast one of the open side and the closed side of the stud, to attachthe bracket to the stud. The stud engagement can include an engagementmember with a bend and a biased engagement feature that is disposed onan opposite side of the bend from the mounting portion. The biasedengagement feature can be configured to: with the bracket in a firstorientation relative to the stud, engage the open side of the stud tosecure the bracket to the stud; and, with the bracket in a secondorientation relative to the stud, engage the closed side of the stud tosecure the bracket to the stud.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the inventioncomprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexeddrawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few ofthe various ways in which the principles of the invention may beemployed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The annexed drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, show variousaspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of an electrical box bracket, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of part of the bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an oblique view showing the bracket of FIG. 1 installed on astud.

FIG. 4 is another oblique view of the installation of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an oblique view of another installation of the bracket of FIG.1, on a stud.

FIG. 6 is an oblique view of an electrical box bracket, according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another oblique view of the bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first step in a process of configuring thebracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a second step in the process of configuring thebracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a third step in the process of configuring thebracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the combination of an electrical box, aplaster ring, and the bracket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the components of FIG. 11 coupledtogether.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a pair of brackets of FIG. 6, with electricalboxes, installed side by side on a strut.

FIG. 14 is an oblique view of the installation of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electrical box bracket includes features allowing it to engagemultiple surfaces of a stud, such as a metal stud, to which it ismounted. The bracket has a front face for mounting an electrical box anda plaster ring, and a far-side tab bent backwards from the front facefor making contact with a drywall behind the bracket. The front face hasone or more snap-on arms on each of a pair of opposite sides, that fitover the front face of a metal stud to which the bracket is to beattached, with the snap-on arms each having a distal portion, with asnap-on arm tab, for engaging a side surface or the edge of a sideflange of the stud on the distal side of the stud, the side farther awayfrom the electrical box mounted on the bracket. The front face also hasone or more flanges projecting rearward from the same opposite sides ofthe front face, with stud-lock tabs for engaging a side surface or edgeof a side flange of a stud on the proximal side of the stud, the sameside of the stud where the electrical box is located. The bracket mayalso have legs that extend from the far-side tab, where the legs arefoldable by an end-user to engage side surfaces of the metal stud atdifferent distances from the far-side tab. This allows the legs to beconfigured to engage the side surface of a C-shape stud either throughthe closed side or the open side. The bracket offers many advantages:the snap-on arms allow for easy mock-up and self-leveling; the integralfoldable leg(s) on the far-side support allow secure installation on theopen side of any size/depth stud; uniquely shaped keyhole aperturesprovide positive retention of an electrical box's screws; and theembossed part of the front face gives added rigidity.

Brackets on the market today provide no easy way to pre-position or“mock-up” a box/bracket assembly before installing a screw or screws. Aninstaller typically attaches the assembly to a stud using at least twoscrews if he or she wants to even temporarily position said assembly.FIG. 1 shows an electrical box bracket 10 that is used to mount anelectrical box to a metal stud, such as a C-shape metal stud laid overdrywall or other material. The bracket 10 includes a front portion orface 12 that receives and secures an electrical box and a plaster ring(“mud ring”), and a far-side tab 14 that is bent back from the face 12.The far-side tab 14 is used to support the bracket 10 by pressingagainst drywall or other material that is behind the bracket 10. Thestud that the bracket 10 mounts to may also be used to support thedrywall or other material, for example with the drywall secured to aback surface to the stud.

The electrical box bracket 10 is a generally L-shaped bent or formedpiece of sheet metal, such as sheet steel, with the legs of the “L”being the front face portion 12, and the far-side support tab 14 thatextends rearwardly from a bottom edge of the front face portion 12. Thefront face portion 12 is embossed, with a recessed central section 16produced by embossing, surrounded by a raised border 18. This embossingprovides increased stiffness and improved flexural resistance. Theamount by which the recessed section 16 is recessed may correspond to athickness of material of a mudring that is placed against the faceportion 12. For example the recessed portion 16 may be recessed by 1.78mm (0.070 inches), to accommodate a mudring made from material that is1.65 mm (0.065 inches) thick, although a wide variety of other amountsof recess are possible.

The embossed face 16 features apertures 22 to which a large or smallelectrical box may be mounted. As mentioned above, the apertures 22 maybe keyhole shaped, in that they have dual protrusions 28 on oppositesides of slots or apertures, as best seen in FIG. 2. The protrusions 28protrude inward to narrow locally the apertures 22 to help retain theelectrical box. For example the electrical box may have screws that arepartially threaded into threaded holes in the electrical box. The shaftsfor these screws may easily pass between the protrusions 28 for theapertures 22, for example by sliding the box into place, with the screwsthen later fully tightened to secure the box to the bracket 10. Thepresence of the protrusions 28 provides a narrowing or constriction thathelps keeps the screw shafts from accidently being dislodged from theapertures 22. There also may be other holes and slots to receive partsof electrical box and/or plaster ring, to secure these devices, or otherdevices, to the bracket 10.

Central to the embossed face 16 is a large rectangular opening 30through which the electrical wiring is accessed. The opening 30 isshaped so as to accommodate a double-gang adjustable mud ring (plasterring), for example.

The bracket 10 includes a number of extensions to aid in securing,temporarily or permanently, the metal stud, on either side of a C-shapestud. Some of these extensions extend from sides of the face portion 12,and others extend from the far-side tab or portion 14.

One type of extension are snap-on arms 40 and 42 that extend fromopposite side edges of the front face portion 12. The snap-on arms 40and 42 are L-shape structures that fit over a metal stud, and can beused to secure the bracket 10 to a metal stud. The L-shape structuresinclude (for the snap-on arm 40) a proximal portion 44 that extends fromthe front face portion 12, and a distal portion 46. The proximal portion44 is substantially in the plane of the front portion 12, and the distalportion 46 is bent downward from the proximal portion 44, for example ata right angle. In use, the proximal portion 44 extends across a frontface or surface of a metal stud. The distal portion 46 extends downwardalong the far side of the metal stud, the side away from the electricalbox and the main parts of the bracket 10. The distal portion 46 has asnap-on arm tab 50, an inward-bent portion (bent back toward the mainparts of the bracket 10), that is used to engage a far side surface orflange of the metal stud. An aperture 54 in the proximal portion 44 maybe used to receive a screw or other fastener to secure the snap-on arm40 (and thus the entire bracket 10) to the metal stud. A self-tappingscrew may be used for this purpose. The snap-on arm 42 may be similar inconfiguration to the snap-on arm 40, with an aperture 56 in a proximalportion 58.

The snap-on arms 40 and 42 allow the user to attach the assembly (thebracket 10, perhaps in combination with an electrical box and/or aplaster ring) to a stud without using any screws or fastenerswhatsoever. This may be a temporary attachment for mock-up purposes, tomake sure that the positioning is correct before it is made final. Whenthe final positioning has been determined, the user only needs to use asingle screw for the final installation, not two as required by mostexisting brackets. Alternatively, the snap-on arms 40 and 42 may beconfigured to be held in place by more than one screw or other fastener,with each of the arms 40 and 42 for instance having two holes forsecuring with two screws. Additionally, the snap-on arms 40 and 42 arepositioned such that pre-assembly virtually guarantees a level bracketand box. There is no extra degree-of-freedom by which the bracket isallowed to cant on the stud, since stud-lock tabs may engage oppositesides of the stud, with the stud-lock tabs engaging flanges or faces ofthe stud. Aesthetically, a level box and bracket yields a level andattractive device and cover plate install.

Also extending from the left and right sides (opposite sides) of theembossed face portion 12 are four perpendicular tabs 62 that form amechanism by which the bracket 10 can be snapped onto a metal stud.Specially, the mechanism includes of two of the rearwardly projectingtabs 62, each with a smaller, angled stud-lock tab 64. The stud-locktabs 64 are bent away from the main part of the bracket 10 (away fromthe front face 12 and the far-side support 14). The tabs 64 may engage aside surface or a flange of the metal stud, in a manner similar to thatof the snap-on arm tab 50, although on the opposite side of the stud(the proximal side of the stud, the side closest to the main part of thebracket 10).

The tabs 62 are used in conjunction with the snap-on arms 40 and 42,with their distal rearwardly-projecting portions and tabs, such as thedistal portion 46 with its stud-lock snap-on arm tab 50. Each side'smechanism (the snap-on arms 40 and 42 and the tabs 62) is so configuredas to allow positioning of two brackets side-by-side on the same metalstud while maintaining the same center line, allowing the electricalboxes to be side by side, on opposite sides of the metal stud at thesame level. A side of each of the snap-on arms 40 and 42 is along theplane of the horizontal centerline of the electrical box, with the arm40 above the centerline and the arm 42 below the centerline.

The far-side support tab 14 has in it a large rectangular aperture 70through which electrical cable or conduit may be passed. On either sideof the far-side tab 14, are perpendicular tab configurations, with tabs72 that provide stiffening for the structure of the bracket 10. The tabs72 may also have means for screw insertion, such as holes, forattachment to side surfaces of a strut, or to other objects.

Also on opposite sides of the far-side support 14 are integral foldablelegs 82 and 84. Each foldable leg 82 and 84 has various apertures toallow bending or screw insertion. For example the leg 82 has a pair ofelongate slots 86 and 88, and pairs of fastener holes 92 and 94. Theelongate slot 86 is located where the leg 82 emerges from the supporttab 14. The slot 86 allows bending of the leg 82 as a whole, relative tothe far-side support 14, at that point. The elongate slot 88 is locatedbetween a proximal part 96 of the leg 82, and a distal part or foot 98of the leg 82. The fastener holes 92 in the proximal part 96, and thefastener holes 94 in the distal part 98, may be used to attach the leg82 to a side surface of a metal stud. The leg 84 has similar features.The legs 82 and 84 may be used in the positions shown in FIG. 1 toattach to the closed side of a metal stud (with the side surface of themetal stud running right along the edge of the bracket 10). The legs 82and 84 also may be bent by 90 degrees or so to use the distal part orfoot (perpendicular to the proximal part) for attachment to insidesurface of a closed-side stud, through the open side of the stud.

The snap-on arms 40 and 42, the tabs 62, and/or the foldable legs 82 and84, constitute a stud engagement 100 for engaging more than one surfaceof a metal stud. For example, the stud engagement may engage a frontface of a stud, and a side flange and/or side surface of the stud.

The rear-most edge of the far-side support tab 14 contains one or moreperpendicular feet 102 for bearing against dry wall. The feet 102 arebent up portions of the tab 14, and they help anchor and support thebracket 10 by pressing against dry wall that underlies the metal stud.

The far-side support tab 14 may include other features, such asundercuts to accommodate a 2½″ stud, or for mounting of shallowelectrical boxes back-to-back. These undercuts may facilitate suitablebending and/or cutting of parts of the far-side support 14.

The bracket 10 has many advantages over many prior brackets. Prior boxbrackets have no means by which the bracket can be securely attached tothe open side of a C-shape metal stud. While the bracket is alwaysscrewed to the front/face side of the stud, there is no way to use ascrew to secure the side of the bracket to the inside face when it alsohappens to be the open side of the stud. Having no attachment beyond thelateral face of the stud is acceptable in theory, but the ability tosecure the bracket longitudinally offers many positive installationadvantages. Firstly, it ensures that other tradesmen, like dry-wallersand insulators, cannot damage/disturb the electrical installation bypushing the assembly back inside the wall or bending it out of the waycompletely to make their job easier. Secondly, it will allow the bracket10 to work at the same level of rigidity on any stud depth and on eitherside of the stud. Thirdly, because the foldable legs 82 and 84 areintegral to the far-side support 14 of the bracket 10, this can all beachieved with no secondary loose (separate) parts that requireadditional effort from the installer to attach the leg to the assembly.Additionally, the legs in their unfolded states are also the means bywhich longitudinal attachment is attained on the closed side of a metalstud.

Past brackets, as well as many on the market today can be quite flimsy.This is because the National Electric Code sets minimum materialthickness at only 0.5 mm (0.020 inches). While this provides costsavings to the manufacturer, it creates an issue for the electricianbecause the brackets are so easy to bend (typically by other tradesmen,as described earlier). The box brackets described herein achieve greaterflexural strength due to their embossed front faces. Prior bracketsfeature a flat front face with offset tabs extending forwardly andradially from said face. While these offset tabs do offer some increasesin strength, they do not achieve the same level of stiffness as anembossment. This added strength is especially important in “pre-fab”applications where the boxes and brackets are pre-assembled and shippedto a job site. A stronger bracket will suffers less—if any—damage duringtransportation from the fab center to the job site.

Another feature important to electrical “pre-fabbers” is the uniquedesign of the apertures which accept the mounting screws of anelectrical box. Keyhole shaped, they feature dual protrusions which helpretain the electrical box. Boxes on the market today feature simpleslots into which the screws slide. During rough handling,transportation, or installation, the screws are permitted to slip out ofthe slots if conditions allow. With the uniquely shaped apertures on thebracket 10, this is far less likely, as the screw threads must push pastthe slight protrusions that effectively lock the box to the bracket. Toretain the box, all the installer has to do is use a little more forceto push each screw past the protrusions to lock the box in place.

FIGS. 3-5 show engagement of the bracket 10 with a stud 120, such as ametal stud. FIG. 3 shows the snap-on arm 40 engaging the stud, with theproximal portion 44 overlying a front face 124 of the stud 120, and withthe stud-lock snap-on tab 50 of the distal portion 46 aiding in holdingthe arm 40 in place by engaging a side flange 126 of the stud 120.

FIG. 4 shows use of the stud-lock tabs 64 of the stud tabs 62 used toengage and press against a flat outer surface side surface 130 of amiddle section of the stud 120, to aid in keeping a snap-on arm 40 (FIG.3) in place. The stud-lock tabs 64 of the stud tabs 62, and thestud-lock tab 50 of the snap-on arm 40, may be used to engage oppositesides of the stud 120, to hold the arm 40 in place.

FIG. 5 shows use of the integral foldable leg 84, with the leg foldedout to press a foot 98 of the leg 84 against the flat inside surface 134of the stud 120, to also help keep the bracket 10 coupled to the stud120. FIG. 5 also shows a stud-lock tab 64 used to engage a stud flange140.

Many alternatives are possible. While the configuration shown anddiscussed herein is for supporting a single electrical box, similarfeatures could also be applied to a bracket that supports multipleelectrical boxes. The bracket also could be applied to a telescoping boxbracket. As another alternative, instead of stud-lock tabs, the snap-onarms could employ dimples. Also, it will be appreciated that some of thefeatures of embodiment described above (the embossed face, the snap-onarms, the stud-lock tabs, the foldable legs, the far support legs, etc.)may be omitted in an alternative embodiment that still achieves at leastof some of the advantages described above (from the features notomitted).

As a further (and more specific) alternative, the snap-on arms 40 and 42could instead be simpler, omitting one or more of the parts or featuresdescribed above. For instance the arms may be simple flanges that extendacross part of the front face of the stud, with one or more holes forreceiving a fastener or fasteners for securing the flange to the fromface of the stud. Such flanges would not snap on to the stud, but wouldbe arms that could be secured to the stud without snapping on to thestud.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative electrical box bracket, a bracket 210,also used for coupling an electrical box and/or a plaster ring tostructure, such as a metal stud. Many features of the bracket 210 aresimilar to those of the bracket 10 (FIG. 1), and some discussion ofsimilar features is abbreviated or omitted in the following description.It should be understood that discussion of the features of the bracket10 should be considered incorporated into the discussion of the bracket210, except where differences between the brackets 10 and 210 precludethe features of two brackets being the same.

The bracket 210 includes a front face portion 212 and a far-side support214 connected to the front face portion 212. The face portion 212 andthe support 214 are continuous unitary parts of a single piece ofmaterial (as is all of the bracket 210), with the support 214 bent fromthe face portion 212 at a right angle.

The face portion 212 is similar in features and configuration to theface portion 12 (FIG. 1), having a recessed central section 216 producedby embossing, surrounded by a raised border 218, with apertures 222 formounting an electrical box, some of the apertures 222 having protrusions228 to aid in retaining screws. An opening 230 is surrounded by therecessed (embossed) central section 216.

The bracket 210 has pairs of snap-on arms 240 and 242 that extend fromopposite side edges of the front face portion 212. This is in contrastto the bracket 10 (FIG. 1), which only had a single snap-on arm on eachside. The snap-on arms 240 are offset from the arms 242 in height alongtheir respective edges of the front face portion 212. This allows twobrackets to be mounted at the same height on opposite sides of a metalstud, with the arms 240 of one bracket interdigitating with the arms 242of another bracket, as explained further below.

Individual of the arms 240 and 242 have similar configurations to thesnap-on arms 40 and 42 (FIG. 1) of the bracket 10 (FIG. 1). That is,each of the snap-on arms 240 and 242 has a proximal portion 244extending out from the plane of the front portion 212, and a distalportion 246 bent to be perpendicular to the proximal portion 244,extending rearward. The distal portion 246 has a snap-on arm tab 250 forengaging a side surface or side flange of a metal stud. The proximalportion 244 has a hole or aperture 254 for receiving a screw or otherfastener. One added feature of the snap-on arms 240 and 242 is that theproximal portions 246 each have a U-shape raised rib 256, to strengthenthe arms 240 and 242.

The bracket 210 has four perpendicular tabs 262 extending perpendicularto the front face portion 212. Each of the tabs 262 has a pair of wingsor side tabs 264 which perform a similar function to the stud-lock tabs64 (FIG. 1) of the bracket 10, with the wings 264 able to engage a sidesurface or flange edge of a metal stud.

The far-side support 214 has a rectangular opening 270, and hasfull-length stiffening flanges 272 and 274. The flanges 272 and 274provide greater stiffening support than the tabs 72 and 74 (FIG. 1) ofthe bracket 10 (FIG. 1).

Integral foldable legs 282 and 284 are on opposite sides (edges) of thefar-side support 214, integrated with the stiffening flanges 272 and274. The legs 282 and 284 are similar in configuration and function tothe foldable legs 82 and 84 (FIG. 1). One additional feature of the legs282 and 284 is stiffening ribs, such as at 290, for stiffening theproximal portions of the legs 282 and 284. The snap-on arms 240 and 242,the tabs 262, and/or the foldable legs 282 and 284, constitute a studengagement 300 for engaging more than one surface of a metal stud.

The far-side support 214 has perpendicular (upturned) feet 302, used forbearing against a wall surface when the bracket 210 is used with afull-depth stud. For use with a shallower stud, such as a 2½″ stud, thebracket 210 may be modifies by making cuts in the stiffening flanges 272and 274 where small holes 312 and 314 are located at the bases of theflanges 272 and 274. This allows bending of a rear part 316 of thefar-side support 214, relative to a main part 317 of the support 214,along bend lines 318 that from the small holes 312 and 314, to thecurved ends 320 of an elongate slot 322 along one side of the rear part316. The ends 320 are curved toward the border between the face portion212 and the far-side support 214. This leaves exposed an edge portion328 of the far-side support 214 that is beyond the bend lines 318, afterthe rear part 316 is folded over. This edge portion 328, specificallyits edge, bears against the wall surface when the bracket 210 is usedwith a shallower 2½″ stud.

For use with a shallower stud, the rear part 316 is folded over 180degrees at the bend lines 318, to double up with thickness over part ofthe support 214. This covers up part of the opening 270 in the support214. This can interfere with clearance for conduit fittings that are topass through the opening 270 to be installed on the electrical box. Tohandle this possibility the rear part 316 has a series semicircularslots, producing a series of half moon cutouts 340 that may be removedas needed to provide space for conduits. To remove one of the cutouts340, an end user cuts along the appropriate notches 342 to thecorresponding semicircular slot. The process of removing one of thecutouts 340, and then folding the rear part 316, is illustrated in FIGS.8-10.

For mounting back-to-back shallow electrical boxes it may be desirableto remove part of the far-side support 214. To accomplish this thesupport 214 has small holes 352 and 354 that are located at the bases ofthe flanges 272 and 274. An end user cuts the flanges 272 and 274 at theholes 352 and 354, and then cuts inward to the opening 270 in the centerof the support 214.

In the illustrated embodiment the distance between the holes 312 and 352limits the width of the leg 282. The leg 284, which is not so limited,is wider than the leg 282.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show coupling of an electrical box 400 and a plasterring 410 to the electrical box bracket 210. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a pairof electrical box brackets 210 and 21O′ coupled to the same strut 420,with snap-on arms of the brackets 210 and 21O′ interdigitating across afront face 422 of the strut 420. The bracket 210 engages the closed sideof the strut 420, with no need to bend its leg to attach the leg to theclosed side of the strut 420. The bracket 210′, on the open side of thestrut 420, has to have its leg bent out to reach the side of the strut420.

Many variations described above are also applicable for the bracket 210.The bracket 210 provides many of the same advantages described abovewith regard to the bracket 10 (FIG. 1). The bracket 210 also providesadditional advantages, such as enhanced stiffness of many parts, andincreased versatility in configuring its far-side support.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to acertain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious thatequivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled inthe art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and theannexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functionsperformed by the above described elements (components, assemblies,devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a“means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond,unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specifiedfunction of the described element (i.e., that is functionallyequivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosedstructure which performs the function in the herein illustratedexemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, whilea particular feature of the invention may have been described above withrespect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, suchfeature may be combined with one or more other features of the otherembodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given orparticular application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting bracket to secure a component to asupport member, the mounting bracket comprising: a mounting portionconfigured to support the component with the component disposed at leastpartly along a first side of the support member; a first snap-on armextending from a first side of the mounting portion; and a secondsnap-on arm extending from a second side of the mounting portion; thefirst snap-on arm including a first portion extending away from themounting portion and configured to overlie a front face of the supportmember; the first snap-on arm further including a second portionextending at an angle relative to the first portion, the second portionincluding a snap-on feature that is configured to engage a second sideof the support member, opposite the first side, when the first portionof the first snap-on arm overlies the front face of the support member,to secure the mounting bracket to the support member; and the first andsecond snap-on arms being offset from each other in a direction thatextends in parallel with an elongate direction of the support member. 2.The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the snap-on feature isconfigured as a snap-on tab that extends from a body of the secondportion.
 3. The mounting bracket of claim 1, with the support memberconfigured as a stud that includes a closed side and an open side,wherein, with the mounting bracket in a first orientation relative tothe stud, the snap-on feature is configured to engage the open side ofthe stud to secure the mounting bracket to the stud; and wherein, withthe mounting bracket in a second orientation relative to the stud, thesnap-on feature is configured to engage the closed side of the stud tosecure the mounting bracket to the stud.
 4. The mounting bracket ofclaim 3, with the open side of the stud including a lip adjacent to thefront face, wherein the snap-on feature is configured to engage the openside of the stud at the lip.
 5. The mounting bracket of claim 1, furthercomprising: a support feature connected to the mounting portion;wherein, with the snap-on feature engaging the second side of thesupport member, the support feature is disposed to engage the first sideof the support member to further secure the mounting bracket to thesupport member.
 6. The mounting bracket of claim 5, wherein the supportfeature includes a plurality of wings configured to engage the firstside of the support member.
 7. The mounting bracket of claim 5, whereinthe support feature includes a support tab extending rearward relativeto the mounting portion.
 8. The mounting bracket of claim 7, wherein thesupport feature further includes a locking tab that extends away fromthe support tab; and wherein the locking tab is configured to engage thesecond side of the support member.
 9. The mounting bracket of claim 8,with the support member configured as a stud that includes a closed sideand an open side, wherein, with the mounting bracket in a firstorientation relative to the stud, the locking tab is configured toengage the open side of the stud and the snap-on feature is configuredto engage the closed side of the stud to secure the mounting bracket tothe stud; and wherein, with the mounting bracket in a second orientationrelative to the stud, the locking tab is configured to engage the closedside of the stud and the snap-on feature is configured to engage theopen side of the stud to secure the mounting bracket to the stud. 10.The mounting bracket of claim 9, with the open side of the studincluding a lip adjacent to the front face, wherein the locking tab andthe snap-on feature are configured to engage the open side of the studat the lip.
 11. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising: afoldable leg configured to be arranged by an end user to engage thesupport member at different distances from the mounting portion, tosupport the mounting portion relative to the support member.
 12. Amounting arrangement to secure a mounting bracket to a support member,the mounting bracket being configured to support a component with thecomponent disposed at least partly along a first side of the supportmember, the mounting arrangement comprising: a snap-on arm mechanicallycoupled to the mounting bracket and configured to mechanically engagemultiple surfaces of the support member to secure the mounting bracketto the support member; and a foldable leg configured to be arranged byan end user to engage the support member at different distances from thecomponent, to support the component relative to the support member; thesnap-on arm extending away from the mounting bracket and including abend that separates a first portion of the snap-on arm from a secondportion of the snap-on arm; the first portion of the snap-on arm beingconfigured to contact a front face of the support member; and the secondportion of the snap-on arm including a biased tab configured to contacta second side of the support member, opposite the first side of thesupport member, when the first portion of the snap-on arm contacts thefront face of the support member, to secure the mounting bracket to thesupport member.
 13. The mounting arrangement of claim 12, with thesupport member configured as a stud that includes a closed side and anopen side, wherein, with the mounting bracket in a first orientationrelative to the stud, the biased tab contacts the open side of the studto secure the mounting bracket to the stud; and wherein, with themounting bracket in a second orientation relative to the stud, thebiased tab contacts the closed side of the stud to secure the mountingbracket to the stud.
 14. The mounting arrangement of claim 13, with theopen side of the stud including a lip adjacent to the front face,wherein the biased tab contacts the open side of the stud at the lip.15. The mounting arrangement of claim 12, further comprising: a supporttab mechanically coupled to the mounting bracket; wherein, with thebiased tab of the snap-on arm contacting the second side of the supportmember the support tab contacts the first side of the support member tofurther secure the mounting bracket to the support member.
 16. Themounting arrangement of claim 15, wherein the biased tab of the snap-onarm is a first biased tab; and wherein the support tab includes a secondbiased tab configured to contact the second side of the support member.17. The mounting arrangement of claim 16, with the support memberconfigured as a stud that includes a closed side and an open side with alip, wherein the first biased tab and the second biased tab areconfigured to contact the open side of the stud at the lip.
 18. Abracket to secure an electrical-system component to a stud, the studhaving front face the bracket comprising: a mounting portion configuredto receive the electrical-system component; a first plurality of studengagements extending from a first side of the mounting portion andbeing configured to engage the front face of the stud and at least oneside of the stud, to attach the bracket to the stud; and a secondplurality of stud engagements extending from a second side of themounting portion and being configured to engage the front face of thestud and at least one side of the stud, to attach the bracket to thestud; each stud engagement of the first and second pluralities of studengagements including an engagement member with a bend and a biasedengagement feature that is disposed on an opposite side of the bend fromthe mounting portion; and the first plurality of stud engagements beingoffset from the second plurality of stud engagements in a direction thatextends in parallel with an elongate direction of the stud.
 19. Thebracket of claim 18, with the stud including a closed side and an openside, wherein the biased engagement features of the first plurality ofstud engagements are configured to: with the bracket in a firstorientation relative to the stud, engage the open side of the stud tosecure the bracket to the stud; and with the bracket in a secondorientation relative to the stud, engage the closed side of the stud tosecure the bracket to the stud.
 20. The bracket of claim 18, wherein,due to the offset between the first plurality of stud engagements andthe second plurality of stud engagements, the bracket is configured sothat with a first instance of the bracket secured to the stud using therespective first plurality of stud engagements and with a secondinstance of the bracket secured to the stud using the respective secondplurality of stud engagements, the mounting portions of the first andsecond instances of the bracket are aligned at a common height relativeto the stud, without the first plurality of stud engagements of thefirst instance of the bracket overlapping with the second plurality ofstud engagements of the second instance of the bracket.